Folding umbrella



(no Model.)

0 J. HOLMAN. FOLDING UMBRELLA.

No. 595,628. Patented Dec. 14,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CALVIN JAMES HOLMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,628, dated December 14, 1897.

Application filed. February 13, 1897. Serial N- 623,2'74=. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, OALvIN JAMES HOLMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in folding-umbrella frames, my purpose being to provide an umbrella of full size which can be easily and quickly folded or collapsed, so as to occupy a space very largely diminished as compared with the space usually required for the folded or closed arran gement of the parts of an ordinary umbrella.

his a further purpose of my invention to provide a folding or collapsible umbrella havin g means of simple character for holding the handle locked while the umbrella is in use and having also a novel construct-ion of the upper half of the frame and the sliding connection therewith of the extensible ribs.

Another purpose of my present invention is to provide a construction and organization of parts whereby I secure parallel action of the parts in connecting the lock of the umbrella-handle.

My invention also comprises other novel features, all of which will be fully explained hereinafter and then particularly pointed out and defined in the claims which conclude said description.

For the purposes of the following specification reference will be had to the drawings accompanying this application, in which Figure 1 is a view showing an umbrella constructed according to my invention as it appears when unfolded or expanded. Fig. 2 is a View showing the same parts folded or collapsed into the smallest possible dimensions. Fig. 3 is a view showing, upon an enlarged scale, the mechanical construction of'one of the ribs of the umbrella. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the umbrella-handle, to show the means for removing thehandle and connecting the same with the tip, together with the locking devices.

The reference-numeral l'in said drawings indicates the staff or central pole of the umbrella. This part is made in three separable portions, consisting of a tip 2, a butt or handle 3, and an intermediate tubular section 4, the latter being composed of two tubular telescoping sections 4 and 4 as more fully explained hereinafter. The ends of the telescoping sections are provided with female screw-threads to enable the tip 2 and handle 3 to be screwed on or off, a cord 5 passing through the intermediate tubular section and having its ends connected to the handle and tip with a suitable slack, whereby both handle and tip may be removed from connection with the staff and retained in suitable relation to the parts with which they engage and all danger of their loss be avoided. The length of the cord 5 is adjusted to the full length of the stafi when extended, and it,is connected to a spring 6, coiled in the telescoping section 4? in such manner that said spring will beput under tension just as the telescoping sections 4 and 4 are extended nearly to their maximum. At the point where the spring tension is suitably great the end of the section 4* passes a short interior pin 7,

rigidly mounted on the inner face of the section 4? and lying in a longitudinal slot 8 in the other section. A partial turn of either telescoping section carriesthis slot out of line with the pin 7 and leaves the end of the slotted section 4* resting upon the interior pin a little to one side of the slot 8. The pin holds the two parts securely, while the tension of the spring preserves asuitable rigidity andstability, besides preserving the engagement of the parts by which the extension of the staff is maintained.

At or near the upper end of the telescoping section 4* is placed a channeled collar 9, having notches 10 at regular intervals, in which the ends of the ribs are arranged. They are pivotally fastened in place by a wire 12, which engages with hooks 13 on the ends of the ribs. The wire is then drawn into a channel 14: in the collar 9, whereby the hooks 13 are forced into and securely retained in the channel 14. The ends of the wire are fastened by twisting or in any other suitable manner.

For the ribs of the umbrella I provide a special construction. Each rib is composed of a double-strand section and a single-strand portion. The former is constructed of two parallel wires 15, separated from each other by a narrow interval, their extremities being ICO brought together and shaped to form the hooks 13, which lie in the notched and channeled collar 9. At the other end of the double-strand portion the single piece of wire forming it is shaped into an eye 16, which lies at an angle to the rib. Fromthis eye the two strands 15 diverge slightly beyond the parallel lines in which they lie to form projecting shoulders 17. Upon the parallel portions of said strands is mounted a sliding clasp 18, havinga lug 19 upon the face adjacent to the stafi. To this lug is rigidly secured the end of the single wire 20, which constitutes the remaining portion of the rib and which runs in the eye 16 as the rib is extended and contracted in length. To the lug 19 is also connected, by a pivotal fastenj I claim is- 21, having its other end pivotally supported l i with a staff having. a series of pivotal supports near its tip, of a series of double strands each having two parallel Wires formed into j hooks at one end to engage the said pivotal the umbrella, and is locked when the spread 3 eye standing at an angle to said wires, a slid- 1 ing' clasp mounted on each double strand, a j single strand movably arranged in said eye and fixed to said clasp, and a spreader pivf oted to a lug on the clasp and to a collar on f a ferrule movable on the stafi', substantially as described.

and channeled collar 22' is mounteda band j ing of suitable character, the end of a spreader upon a channeled and notched collar22,which forms part of a sliding ferrule 23. This ferrule slides upon the intermediate or telescoping sections of the staff in order to spread is effected by suitable means, such as the spring-catch 24, which lies in a slot 25 in the telescoping portion 4, this construction of the fastening device or catch being substantially similar to that used heretofore in nearly all styles of umbrellas of the ordinary type.

Upon the ferrule 23 just above the notched or annulus 26, from one edge of which elastic strips 27 extend toward the collar 22'. These strips, which act independently of each other, are flexed in such manner that their extremities stand normally at a small distance from the staff, their body portions being curved gently,so that their outer surfaces are slightly concave. The numberand position of these springs is such that they stand in the same. radial lines with the spreaders 21, against which the free ends of said springs exert an channeled collar-22. The function of these springs is to cause the spreaders 22 to open to their fullest extent and to assist the latter in extending the sliding single-strand portions of the ribs to their full length.

The ferrule 23 is of such length that when the umbrella is raised the ferrule strikes against the lower end of the collar 9, thus: forming a stop which arrests the further upthe parts.

The lugs 19 have in one respect a double function. points of support for the ends of the spreaders, but they also carry the singlestrands 20, which slide in the eyes 16. Moreover, when position they hold the spreader-arms 21 at their minimum length.

They not only serve as pivotal.

When. closed, the frame of. the umbrella is contracted to very little more than thelength of the double-strand portions of the ribs. The bulk of the contracted frame is not sensibly increased, save only by laying the detached handle and tip alongside the other parts. No special apparatus is required to produce the folding or the unfolding movements of the ribs on the spreaders, and the entire frame and stad are folded or contracted into so small a bulk and in so easy and natural movements that the convenience of the user is materially promoted. Especially is this the case with commercial travelers, tourists, and others whose business or pleasure keeps them in the 1 open air av large part of the time.

Having thus described my invention, what 1. In a folding umbrella, the combination supports and bent at the other end into an 2. In a folding umbrella, the combination f with a staff composed of two telescoping sections, of a detachable tip and handle, a flexisaid telescoping sections and attached at its opposite ends to said cord, said spring exerting its tension to hold the tip and handle in place when the stad is extended, and means for holding the staff in its extended position,

' substantially as described. outward pressure at a point 'just above the j 3. In a folding umbrella, the combination engaging; said slot to hold the staif extended, of a detachable tip and handle, afl'exible connection such as a cord between said handle and tip and passing through the telescoping sections, a spring coiled in one. of said telescoping sections and attachedv at its opposite ward movement and consequent straining of' ends to said cord, said spring exerting its tension to hold the tip and handle in place when the stafi is extended, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- CALVIN JAMES HOLMAN.

1 nesses. the umbrella is folded these slides lie near Witnesses:

O. M. FORBES, E. 0. SMITH. 

